Deebo Samuel’s Latest Social Media Post Amid Terry McLaurin Holdout Turns Heads

The Washington Commanders have a bit of a problem on their hands when it comes to their star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. The reigning All-Pro Second Team member wants a new contract extension, but his demands are proving to be too much for the Commanders to stomach. As a result, he’s holding out from training camp, which has put a brighter spotlight on Washington’s other star wide receiver, Deebo Samuel.

Early in the offseason, the Commanders picked up Samuel in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, with plans to pair him alongside McLaurin, providing a dominant duo for Jayden Daniels to work with under center. While McLaurin’s situation is certainly capturing headlines, Samuel caught some attention of his own with his latest post on social media.

Deebo Samuel Ready to Star for Commanders Amid Terry McLaurin Absence

A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Samuel quickly turned himself into one of the most unique playmakers in the league. A big-play threat at wide receiver, Samuel also earned touches out of the backfield as a running back. It culminated in a standout 2021 season where Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 365 yards and eight more scores.

Those big numbers earned Samuel his only Pro Bowl selection, in addition to a spot on the All-Pro First Team. Since then, though, he’s struggled to reach those same heights, due in large part to his desire not to continue operating as a part-time running back. Samuel has remained productive, but the 49ers eventually decided to move on from him, with the Commanders gladly picking him up in their aforementioned trade.

Entering training camp, McLaurin’s contract situation overshadowed Samuel’s arrival in Washington. Adding him to a Commanders offense that already features another Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver and a dominant rushing attack makes the team even more dangerous. The key piece of the puzzle involves getting McLaurin back on the field.

Despite that, Samuel doesn’t come without his detractors, as some folks believe he isn’t capable of replicating his standout 2021 season. Samuel has heard the noise, and he recently shared a post on Instagram showing himself preparing for his first season with the Commanders. And while McLaurin may be holding out, it’s clear that Washington’s newest weapon on offense is ready to make an immediate contribution.

Commanders Hoping to Get Terry McLaurin’s Contract Situation Sorted Out

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 01: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders exits the tunnel for the field before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Samuel has been the No. 1 wide receiver in an offense before, and if he needs to, that’s a role he can take on with Washington. In order for its offense to reach peak efficiency, though, McLaurin needs to be working alongside Samuel. The Commanders don’t want to come up short in the NFC Championship Game again; they want to make it to the Super Bowl and win it all in 2025.

So while all eyes remain on McLaurin amid his holdout, Samuel is putting his head down and getting to work. Assuming McLaurin eventually signs a new deal to stick around in Washington, the team figures to be able to take another step forward on offense in 2025 with Samuel hitting the ground running.